2017 was a year full of important milestones for the Via Francigena. The Cultural route of the council of Europe continues to grow and unite pilgrims headed to Rome, Santiago or Jerusalem. A walking route made up of concrete steps and actions which now looks towards Unesco.

In July the European Association of the Vie Francigene, in collaboration with local operators and experts, realised a very important task, to verify and monitor the route of the Via Francigena in the south in Puglia, on the tract from Monti Dauni to Brindisi.

A walk surrounded by the beauty and colours of the Salento coast from Otranto to Leuca, in the South of Italy. The Puglian land of ancient tracts, a bridge of intercultural dialogue on the Mediterranean.

The first announcement of the Valore Paese-Cammini e Percorsi project begins allocating 43 real estates to cooperative companies and associations established for the most part less than 40 years free of change for 9 years, as laid down by D.L. Turismo e Cultura (D.L. 31.5.2014, n. 83).

The European Association of the Vie Francigene protects and promotes the official route of the Via Francigena, as certified in the Programme of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, as a touristic-emotional product and experience, a European model of excellent results and service.

The European Association of the Vie Francigene is the partner of DigitaLife, a project for a collective film which will tell the story of the changes which have occured in the last twenty years from a perspective aimed towards the future. The venture will be realised mainly thanks to the videos sent in by members of the public.

Rome, 9th June 2017 – The consolidation of the collaboration of Trenitalia with the European Association of the Vie Francigene occurred for the integration of the railway and the route, from the Aosta Valley to Rome on foot or by bike.

A new step for the extension project of the certification of the Via Francigena in the South as “Cultural route of the Council of Europe”. The 5 crossed regions (Lazio Campania Molise Basilicata Puglia) meet in Rome to put into effect the collaboration protocol.

We are now arrived at the 7th edition of the international Festival “Vie Francigene Collective Project”, supported by the European Association of the Vie Francigene (E.A.V.F.) and by Civita Association.

Experiences in comparison to make culture and itineraries alive through accessibility. The “Matera Mare” Forum, to which EAVF took part, focused on activities in favour of the sustainability of itineraries that are accessible by anyone.

“The Vie Francigene in Puglia, from vision to opportunity for a sustainable territorial development” is the title of the dissertation discussed by Alessandro Caterino in the month of July, at the University of Bologna. The dissertation is focused on the Via Francigena in Puglia and on the governance of the project: an example of good practice, which sees the Puglia, through the Via Francigena, at the centre of an international project, tied to the sustainable territorial development.

The project entitled “Europe to Turkey on Foot”, co-funded by the European Program “Civil Society Dialogue between EU and Turkey IV–Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments” started on 15th February.